Vandebilt captures Ford Cup

Friday

HOUMA -- Winning state titles is a normal thing for the sports teams in Vandebilt Catholic’s athletic program.

During the 2007-08 school year, Vandebilt won six state titles in team sports, which helped it claim yet another big honor -- the 2008 Southern Quality Ford Cup trophy.

The Ford Cup trophy is presented to one school in each of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s seven classifications that has the highest point total at the end each school year based on the level of success in each of its athletic programs.

In dominating fashion, Vandebilt won the Class 4A award with 420 points, which were 100 points more than second place St. Michael (320). Northside finished third with 180 points.

Vandebilt finished with highest point total out of any school in the state. St. Louis, the Class 3A winner, was second with 380 points.

"It’s a great tribute to the coaches, players, parents, administration and everybody involved with our program," Vandebilt athletic director Calvin Buxton said. "We won six state championships in one year. That’s an incredible accomplishment. It’s really unbelievable."

It is the second consecutive year Vandebilt has won the Class 4A Ford Cup title.

Buxton said there are many reasons why the school was able to repeat its title.

"The organization of our programs, the commitment to excellence, the ability to get these young athletes to focus, and most of all, to have fun, is the reason why we were so successful," Buxton said.

In team sports, Vandebilt won its six state titles in boys and girls’ swimming, boys and girls’ tennis, girls’ soccer and softball. The boys’ soccer team was state runner-up.

Also, Vandebilt’s volleyball team won the District 5-II title and made its first appearance in the state tournament since 1998, the football and the girls’ basketball teams both advanced to the state quarterfinals, the boys’ cross country team finished second in the state, the girls’ cross country team placed seventh and the boys’ golf team finished fourth at the state meet.

Individually, Rachel Laurent won both the indoor and outdoor state track and field titles in the pole vault.

Also in boys’ swimming, Kip Pierce won the 200-meter individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke, Curt Theriot won the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke, and the Terriers also won the 200-meter medley relay and the 400-meter freestyle relay.

For the Lady Terriers swim team, Monique Lefort won the 100-meter butterfly and the 100-meter breaststroke, and Amber Pierce won the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events.

The girls’ team also won the 200-meter medley relay, the 200-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter freestyle relay.

In boys’ tennis, Vandebilt’s Matt Spence won the Division II state singles title. In girls’ tennis, the sister duo of Ruth and Jessica Bourque claimed the state doubles title.

Buxton said the student-athletes are the main ones responsible for the program’s successful.

"As coaches, we’re blessed with the most precious gift in the world -- working with kids," Buxton said. "That’s what we do. God’s most precious gift is his kids. We’re lucky to have such a great group of student-athletes."

When asked if Vandebilt can win the Ford Cup for the third time next season, Buxton immediately gave his answer.

"I don’t see it changing. I think we’re going to continue to do the things that we do," Buxton said. "Of course there’s always a little luck involved, but hard work and dedication pays off. There’s no reason to believe that if we don’t keep working hard, that we can’t stay on the top."

Other schools that won Ford Cup trophies this season included St. Joseph’s of Baton Rouge in Class 5A, University Lab in Class 2A, Ouachita Christian in Class 1A, Episcopal of Acadiana in Class B and Elizabeth in Class C.

In Class 3A, E.D. White Catholic finished third with 145 points, trailing only St. Louis and Parkview.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.